West Virginia still waiting on FEMA declaration a week after deadly flooding
A week after flash flooding killed two people and destroyed at least 33 homes in north-central West Virginia, state and federal officials say a FEMA disaster declaration still hasn't come through.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey formally requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald Trump on July 25, seeking federal Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie and Upshur counties, along with statewide Hazard Mitigation funding, according to a news release from his office. The request said the disaster exceeds the capabilities of state, local and charitable resources, and noted that additional counties could be added as damage assessments continue.
The storms began July 21, when up to 7 inches of rain fell on parts of north-central West Virginia in a matter of hours, overwhelming creeks, culverts and drainage systems and prompting Morrisey to declare a state of emergency for all 55 counties.
The most severe impacts hit Lewis, Upshur and Pleasants counties, where flash flooding, landslides and road closures followed the storms, the governor's office said. Morrisey told reporters at a news conference in Buckhannon that 4.5 inches of rain fell in just 37 minutes, leaving the water with nowhere to go, according to a report by West Virginia Watch.
The Upshur County Commission, in a local emergency proclamation, said the county had experienced widespread flooding that damaged public infrastructure, private property, roadways, bridges, culverts and utilities. Lewis County officials issued a similar declaration, citing comparable damage to roads, bridges and culverts.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources conducted at least 85 water rescues, Morrisey said. Flooding forced the closure of parts of Interstate 79 and U.S. Route 48, CBS News reported.
In middle Tennessee, the National Weather Service office in Nashville issued a series of flash flood warnings beginning late July 21 for counties including Lewis, Maury and Perry, citing radar-indicated rainfall of 1 to 3 inches capable of flooding creeks, streams, urban areas and areas with poor drainage.
In Robertson County, Tenn., storms caused downed trees, power lines and flooded roadways, according to a statement from the Robertson County Emergency Management Agency. Thousands of customers in Dickson County lost power, the report said.
Rainfall in the Nashville area ranged from about 2 to nearly 4 inches overnight, with Mt. Juliet recording 2.58 inches, according to a National Weather Service rainfall report.
